Once again we used this nonprofit consumer organization because of its built-in credibility. Consumers’ Checkbook’s Center for the Study of Services was founded in 1974, with financial support from the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs, to help Americans get high-quality services and products at the best possible prices. Its “Top Doctors” surveys have been done in 53 major U.S. cities.

This survey was done exclusively for Vegas Seven. The results are below, including online-only listings of top specialists.

Consumers’ Checkbook surveyed all active office-based doctors on the local American Medical Association mailing list. It asked each surveyed doctor to tell which one or two specialists, in each of 35 different specialty fields, he or she “would consider most desirable for care of a loved one.” The list of top doctors contains the names of physicians who were mentioned multiple times. (We’ve put an asterisk next to the doctor who received the most mentions in each category.)

Now, not every great doctor in Las Vegas made the list. That’s the nature of surveys; there is a margin of error. But the beauty of this survey is that it’s an advanced level of word of mouth, if you will, and if you need a primary-care physician or a specialist, we guarantee that this is a good place to start.

For further details on Consumers’ Checkbook, its methodology or its other consumer services, visit Checkbook.org. You can also order its Top Doctors book online.